Go Figure

So, after just spending the last hour playing with my hair, and almost crying at one point over the loss of my long tresses and the fact that I had made myself resemble a young female Labour MP, I think I've figured out what my love/hate relationship with my new haircut is all about - it's not short enough or, quite frankly, crazy enough.

You see, my hair for the majority has been long. And even when it's short it's been a simple bob. Not only was I hankering from the freedom that having short hair brings but also I wanted to make a HUGE differenec, have people go WOW! In all fairness a couple of people hat work did say that but I just don't feel like going from past my collarbone length to jaw length was enough.

It'll probably be best for me to keep it this length for a little while and see if I can't fake the look I'm going for as and when I want it (atleast I'll have the added bonus of a more simple hair do when I want it).

For now he's a couple of pics of what my hair looks like today plus an outfit post





















Sweater dress H&M; studded belt TOPSHOP; wet look leggings TOPSHOP; scarf H&M, black & white leopard print bag MORGAN; Barry M nail polish in Pink Flamingo

Nu Hair Do!

Had my hair cut on Saturday afternoon. It was a very last minute decision...didn;t decide until very late Friday evening that I was going to do it and then had to get up at 9am the following morn to ring the hairdressers and hope they could squeeze me in.

Before the hairdressers:


After the hairdressers:


Quie a difference huh??!! I like it but don;t love it yet. I need to have a chance to play around with it properly, plus I'm still getting used to seeing my reflection without the massive mane.

Quick pic of my 'first day back to work' outfit:

Navy jacket/blouse-vintage from Ebay; black boobtube-H&M; denim skirt-Danielle Scutt 4 Topshop; black wet look leggings-Topshop; navy ribbon, gold chain and pearl necklace-Accessorize.

Yesterday's Outfit

Because of where I work I have to put together outfits for myself 5 days a week that consist purely of that brand (not including shoes, accessories and clothing tho). Ive worked their two years and get discount on 6 items every 3 months which means (quick bit of math) that I've bought 48 pieces of uniform, about 5 of which will have been shoes so let's say 42. Alongside this I've obviously bought things outside of my uniform allowance. Maybe that sounds like putting an outfit together should be easy but trust me it isn't. Firstly these are high street clothes - they aren't realistically meant to last forever and at 2-3 wears and one wash per week for 12 weeks+ they tend to have come to the end of their life by the time the next uniform swings around. And really 6 pieces isn't that much - to me that's just the equivalent of 2 outfits. So you build up a wardrobe of basics and occasionally you sneak in some vintage bought from the Leeds store (read: found it in a charity shop) and sometimes your happy with how your outfit turned out and feel a bit more you that day:

Black Roll Back Crew Tee - TOPSHOP £8 (3 seasons old)
Bright Floral Body Con Skirt - TOPSHOP £28
Hi-Waisted Wet Look Legging - TOPSHOP £20
Black Zip Up Shoe (JADE) - TOPSHOP £55









Light Grey Slouchy Cashmere Jumper - GAP £20 SALE (4 seasons old)














Light Grey Vinyl Biker Jacket - TOPSHOP £15 current sale
Black Cable Knit Scarf - H&M 99p sale
Purple Metallic Leather Bag - Laguna London @ TKMAXX £14 sale










NECKLACES

Stag - FREEDOM £6 (I think)
Green Teardrop - AVON (from charity shop) - £1
Bevelled Edge Clock - JUMBLE SALE 50p
Amber Glass Teardrop - AFFORDABLE VINTAGE FASHION FAIR, York £5






Apologies for the crappy shots, I still haven't found a camera so am using my phone when needs must. Can I also just say that I'm in no way slagging off my employers with this post, just saying how frustrating it can be to create an outfit with a very select pool of clothing that you see day in day out.

Ciao

P.S. Is it worth me doing the occasional 'Outfit Post'? Do people like these?

Leeds Shopping Day......Hip Hip Hooray!

So, I'm now on the 2nd day of my week long and much needed holiday as is the boy. After spending 6 hours negotiating the mine field that is painting our bathroom we decided to spend today in Leeds partaking in some good old fashioned retail therapy. While Hull does have a vast array of shops we are both always drawn to leeds for shopping - probably because of its cool mix of high street, vintage and boutique plus Urban Outfitters which we unfortunately do not have :(

Im always excited when I'm heading in UO even though every single trip lets me down. This isn't because of the fare it has to offer but because my first trip into one of these hallowed stores was on Broadway in New York City when the dollar was at its best for a Brit shopper like myself. In England I generally go straight for the sale section knowing that atleast I'll be able to afford something from there. Tried on a couple of skirts (I really do need to do a post on my love affair with jersey fabric) but neither fit great so I plumped in the end for a vintage-style sexy nightie/slip and white patent purse, £20 & £10 respectively

I also hit up a little cosmetics and clothing boutique which sits in the gorgeous Victorian Quarter called Rose Apothecary. As the name suggests it is focused around the old fashioned but holds modern gems that some how still sit really well. Upstairs the bulk of the stock is pretty soaps and cupcake shaped bath bombs along with a little Paul £ Joe make-up and some Tarina Tarantino jewellery. Downstairs is a treasure trove of newly made clothes based on 1940s and 50s designs as well as a substantial underwear department housing vintage style garments and pretty panties. Having more than enough underwear myself I decided to purchase a pair of black sequin and bead nipple patties -no idea why but I've always wanted some at at £5 in the sale I wasn't exactly breaking the bank.

Since the boy decided to add a third scent to his growing collection with Ralph Lauren Blue, I felt I should do the same. Please note I will still pledge my allegiance to Coco Chanel, and shall probably wear it every day until I die, but occasionally I want for something a little lighter (plus at 50 odd quid a bottle and the way I spray it, its probably more prudent to having something to help spread out its life span). After smelling a few I opted for Stella McCartney's Stella...not a new kid on the block but the rose scent made me feel nostalgic and reminded me of my grandma's talc (though I will note you don't get very much for £30)!

I had a quick sneak into Accessorize while the boy perused the bargain bins in a record shop, hoping to find a few gems in the sale section. Unfortunately for the purse strings the only things I was taken with where full price...damn. After seeing a fellow blogger's purchases from this store via their YouTube video I really wanted the ribbon and chain bracelet with the big gold anchor charm. First dilemma being that I couldn't decide between the red, blue, or stripe ribbon. Second being that my tiny hands and wrists made it look as if it was going to fall off at any minute. So instead I went for a £12 chain, navy ribbon and pearl necklace and a £5 gold chain and black ribbon ring picked up last minute at the till


Surprisingly for me there where no Barry M purchases in Boots - though I do have three new nail paints due to arrive tommorow, ha! Other buys today where a massive gold skull ring from a trashy shop called Culture Vulture which is half covered in topaz rhinestones and half covered in clear. Plus the allusive stripy tee has now been found in the Gap Body section (for a bargainous on sale price of just £8). Also picked up a little Urban Retreat styling cream from TKMaxx which will only come in handy when we get a shower and I can finally put conditioner in my hair and actually use my straighteners to give my hair some wave (you can tell I'm missing the curly can't you?).

Right, being the good housewife that I am I'm off to await my beau's return from football practice and check on the roast gammon joint in the over. Who know's I may even wear the patties tonight ;)

(Apologies for the cut + paste pictures, I am still without a digital camera boo hoo!)

I can't wait for the end of may because...

...it means getting 6 pieces of clothing with mega discount - UNIFORM TIME! It seriously feels like forever since the last one and because its 6 things every 3 months you do tend to very quickly get bored of the clothes you got (bear in mind that I work 5 days a week).

Uniform time for me usually means not having a clue what I want when it comes round or loving loads of stuff but looking crap in it. This time I do have one piece in mind and am pretty certain it will suit and is a style that'll fit me well. It also fits in with the new wardrobe I'm trying to create for myself - pieces that are fashionable now but that won't date too quickly, that I can mix up with items I already have and that I can get more than one look out of:


As with anything I buy that comes with a belt, the matching waist tie will be removed (and most likely utilised as a hairband or possibly a contrasting belt for my cheapo nude trench coat). I'd dress it up with my leather look leggings, so heeled gladiator sandals and my uber-long studded leather belt for a rocky/Westwood look. When it gets to high summer I'll go for a relaxed vibe with a tan and flip flops. And I'll do a cute, kitschyness with jersey leggings, nude ballet pumps and my big plastic red heart necklace. Very excited by this purchase!